The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1887-04-08
The Farm.
Propagating Fruit Troes.-Budding
Versus Root Grating.

be Of much interest to the farmer or
general reader, by hearing of the pre-
text now resorted to by some who send
out travelling salemen, to instruct these
agents to represent that all the trees
that they sell are budded, and to assert,
to every one that raises the question,
that 10 root grated trees are worth
planting. What constitutes the differ
ence between these two methods. these
dogmatic individuals may not be able to
explain, but they are fully booked up
and have their little speech carefully
learned, to convince possible custom
or, that their trees are the cheapest in
the long run at twice the price for
which they may be had nearer home
These men and boys who never insert
ed bud in twig or tree, and speak of
grating peaches in winter, are the ones
whose services are solicited to sell nur.
sery stock, with promise ION paper) Of
liberal salary and all expenses paid, (no
previous experience needed.) Is 1t any
wonder they sometimes get sadly con
fused, where their printed book of in.
structions does not meet the case, or
that the farmers who buy Of them
sometimes get cheated.
Now have grown apples and pears
both ways and cannot See any special
difference unless it be in favor Of the
grated trees. When the budding can
be done at the top Of the ground, and
not several inches above it., "a few years
will ordinarily be enough to destroy all
marks Of difference.
Where either budding or grating is
done above the surface, so that the
earth will not conceal the point OF june
ture, there is liable to be mark thai
may dlsfgure the stem, point of NJ
great impol lance it is ue, yet enough
of blemish to spoil the sale ofsuch.
In the case Of dwarf pears, which are
universally grown by budding Oh
ounce, the latter must be buried Ell
tirely, to save it from the ounce borer.
that will else, in few years cut of
The top, or so weaken it at the point OF
union and below by its burrowing that
it is llabeto be broken square off the
wind. The pear generally enlarges
faster by growth, than this stock on
which it stands and this alone makes it
top heavy. With apples and standard
pears the same is often the case or the
reverse SO we may see old trees meas
uriny Is inches III diameter of butt, up
to the point where the grating was
done and here contract suddenly to IA
inches or less.
Any one of ordinary information,
who has given the subject thought,
can appreciate the difficulty of olpays
budding just a. the surface, so the tree
is liable to be planted deeper, in the
orchard, than it originally was intended
to grow, which causes the same unnat
ural condition urged by some, against
all root grated trees, 4. e, that top wood
is made to grow under ground where it
does not belong.
Another charge or claim made by
these men who want new hobby to
ride, and are now instrucring agents to
work up this budded tree notion for
more til; l. is worth is that "budded
trees have better roots than the others
and will live longer"
To show the absurdity of this claim
il is only necessary to state that the bud
or graft in the apple, seems to have the
unfailing power of determining the
form OF the root on which it may be
growing, to such an extent that certain
varieties of apples may be distinguished
from each other as readily by their roots
as tops. Seedlings taken promiscuously